CAF CC: Enyimba salvage point after dramatic draw against Zamalek in Uyo

Enyimba came from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Zamalek of Egypt and salvaged a point in their CAF Confederations Cup Group D encounter at the Godswill Akpabio stadium on Sunday.

Ifeanyi Ihemekwele’s first-half strike and Chinedu Ufere’s 57th-minute leveler helped Enyimba to their first point on the continent after two matches.

Seifeddine Jaziri and Omar Faraj had put Jose Gomes’ side in a two-goal lead before the People’s Elephants mounted a spirited comeback.

Enyimba fell 2-0 to Al-Masry, the other Egyptian club in the group, in their first match of the group stage series.

The Peoples’ Elephant were well on their way to another defeat in the presence of their fans after Jaziri gave the visitors the lead on 33 minutes. The Tunisian forward slammed in on the volley after Mahmoud Bentayg knocked a long ball forward into his path.

A mix of good play and defensive blunder saw Zamalek double their lead seven minutes later. A low cross from the right evaded two defenders — one of whom injured the goalkeeper — allowing Faraj, a Palestine forward, to slot into an empty net for 2-0.

Ihemekwele ensured Enyimba had something to cheer going into the interval as he halved the deficit in the fourth minute of added time, chipping the goalkeeper for 2-1 at halftime.

Yinka Olanrewaju’s side came out with more purpose in the second half and restored parity before the hour mark when an exchange of passes ended with Ufere’s deflected shot sailing over a stranded goalkeeper for 2-2. Ihemekwele had another chance to put Enyimba in the lead but could not convert.

Enyimba had to settle for a draw, which lifted them from the bottom of the group to third, while Zamalek is top with four points after two matches.